While I swear this just looks like an industrial-strength Super Soaker, the Russians assure us that it’s really their attempt at a new kind of non-lethal weapon. It uses "electro-hydrodynamic effects," which basically means that a jolt of electricity is used to shoot out a high-velocity stream of water to take out the bad guy. As I’ve said in the past, I like non-lethal weapons, even when they kind of look like toys.

Robotic devices have been used in Iraq since the beginning of the war, but meet SWORDS (special weapons observation remote reconnaissance direct action system) which are modified bomb-disposal robots designed to function in a firefight.

There is a three-part arming process with plenty of safety protocols — "So now we can kill the unit if it goes crazy" . Nice to know.

There are only three of them right now because of funding problems, and of course, we cannot know their location.

How come we didn’t have this Water Morter growing up?  This bad boy comes with 100 water bombs and it’s itching for use for this hot summer.  The best thing about this is that it has a shoulder mount…go G.I. Joe on your victims! No survivors. No prisoners!

Technical specifications

• Fires water bombs up to 8 metres.
• Set includes 1 water mortar and 100 water bombs.
• Not suitable for children under 36 months.
• Only to be used with water balloons.
• Black and red colour, with shoulder rest.
• A loading lever and a firing trigger.
• Size: 50 x 21.5 x 10cm.

It was inevitable, I suppose, that our fighting men and women would be assimilated into the Borg collective, and the US military’s "Land Warrior" program sounds like just the right euphemism. I’m okay with it, though, because I’m really bad at making decisions, and thus would benefit from a hive mind, and all those gadgets look really cool. For now, though, the technology will enhance our soldiers’ battlefield awareness through GPS and heads-up displays, and provide for greater weapon precision. That couldn’t possibly be a bad thing, and the extra weight will just toughen ‘em up.

Actually, it’s an airborne laser attached to the front of a 747 (not the rear, and so it couldn’t possibly be a ‘roid), and it’s passed numerous tests. A fleet of these monsters will protect us from enemy planes, missiles, and, of course, evil Decepticons. In fact, one has to wonder…